Meter and motor for steam and water.



PATENTED OCT. 1'7, 1905.

A. H. CARPENTER. METER AND MOTOR FOB STEAM AND WATER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-1. 1904.

AMOS H. CARPENTER, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

METER AND MOTOR FOR STEAM AND WATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1905.

Application filed March 1, 1904. Serial No. 196,015.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMos H. CARPENTER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Stockton, in the county of SanJoaquin, State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Meters and Motors for Steam and ater; and I declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in meters and motors forsteam and water; and the object of my improvement is to provide amachine that will correctly measure all the water or steam that passesthrough it, that will work in any position, and that while measuringsuch water and steam it will also communicate power to its axis, servingas a stem to the indicator that may be applied to any desired use. ThisI accomplish by the use of the peculiar construction, novel combination,and adaptation of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointedout in the claims hereunto annexed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings for a better comprehension thereof, in whichFigure 1 is a top view of the meter and motor with the lid removed. Fig.2 is a sectional view of the meter and motor with lid attached on linedrawn through their centers at X X. Fig. 3 is a top view of the machinewith the lid removed and without the tappetrods. Fig. 4 is a side viewof one of the floats or blade-arms detached from the hub. Fig. 5 is anenlarged sectional longitudinal view of the blade-arm, showing thepacking-strip thereon. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of theblade-arm at Y Y.

My improvement consists, essentially, of the hollow basin A, the generaloutline of which is circular in form, its sides being constructed atright angles to its floor and lid, and which may be made of any desireddepth or diameter, and which is provided at each end with suitablehollow pipe projections P and P, whereby it may be connected with steamor water pipes such as are ordinarily used.

P represents the end where the water or steam enters the meter or motor,and P its exit, and P the passage-way for water or apart and extend itsentire length.

steam through the meter and motor between the hub H and the innersurface of the basin.

The inside of the basin is made to receive a cylindrical hub H, thelength of which is equal to the depth of the basin, and which is shownin the drawings to be solid, and which may be made of any suitablediameter, and which has one end of its axis O journaled in the lid andthe other end 0 journaled in the bottom of the basin at a point outsideof their respective centers, so that its periphery on one side reachesnearly to the surface of the' inner side of the basin and leaving on theother side a sufficient space for the passage of the water or steamthrough the basin from P to P through the passage-way P. Four or morecylindrical recesses D, with sides penetrating through the periphery ofsaid hub, are constructed in said hub at suitable distance Said recessesare parallel with the axis and exteriorsurface of hub, and the openingstherefrom to the rim appear like slots running lengthwise through thesurface of said hub and are made to receive the floats or blade-arms F.

Upon one end of the floats F is fastened laterally a cylindricalpost-like attachment 1, which is made to fit loosely and turn in thesaid cylindrical recess D of the hub, and thereby forms a hinge in itsperiphery, and which is of the same length as the hub, and when placedin position in said recess the attached float or blade-arm projectsthrough the lateral opening thereof from the periphery of the hub and isbroad and long enough to completely fill the passage-way P for the wateror steam on the outer side of the hub from P to P.

At E on the inner side of the basin and at its lower side, asrepresented in Fig. 1, where the said inner surface of the basin recedesfrom the periphery of the hub, such side is beveled and forms a cam,whereby the floats or blade-arms when opened to fill the passage-way Pare closed by coming in contact with the cam E and are closely foldedagainst the side of the hub, thereby completely filling the spacebetween the periphery of the hub and the interior surface of the basinfrom E to E until the point E is reached, where the interior surface ofthe basin again recedes from the hub to allow the float or blade-arm toopen and project itself across the passageway P. The blade-arms may becurved laterally and may be provided in pairs, and a tappet-rod K, thatis constructed a little l said packing-strips, and upon the inner sidelonger than the diameter of the hub, passes through its body andoperates one pair of blade-arms, one end of which said tappet-rod worksagainst one blade and its other end against the blade that isdiametrically opposite on the other side of the hub, and when the floatF comes in contact with the cam or beveled side of the basin at E itforces the rod K against the float on its opposite side at E, andthereby opens and projects the same across the passage-way P.

By making the floats or blade-arms with less curvature or by bevelingthe rear end of such blades on the inner side thereof so that theextreme end of such blades do not fold closely against the periphery ofthe inside hub, but leave a small space or chamber, triangular orotherwise, between such ends and said periphery, as shown in Fig. 3, thetappetrods K may be dispensed with, for the water or steam in passingthrough the entrancehole P enters such space or chamber between the endof said blade arm and the periphery of said inside hub and by itspressure therein and against the projecting end of the float causes thesame to open and project across the passage-way P without the use of anymechanical means for that purpose.

By inverting the meter from its position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 thetappet-rods may likewise be dispensed with, for the process of openingand closing the blade-arms may be assisted by gravity, for it will beobserved when so inverted that as soon as the outer end of the floatpasses the entrance-opening P its own weight will cause it to fallacross the said passage-way P, and before it reaches the cam E in therevolution of the inside hub its own weight will likewise cause it tofall back across the passage-way P and fold itself against the peripheryof the hub; but as gravity can only be relied upon to assist in openingand closing the blade-arms when the revolutions of the inside hub aremoderately slow the said cam and the chamber between the end of theblade-arms and the periphery of the hub are necessary features of themechanism when the inside hub rotates with considerable speed.

The cover B of the basin is made flat, and its general outline iscircular in form, so as to completely cover the hole in the basin, andserves as a journal for one end of the axis, and the same is attached tothe body of the basin by means of screws penetrating the screwholes M.To prevent the steam or water from leaking through any space that may beleft between the edge of the blade-arms and the side of the passage-wayP, a flexible pack ing-strip N, that is made L-shaped and extendingacross each of the two sides of the floats, is fastened thereon byscrews, and by means thereof the device may bekept steam and water tightby the proper adjustment of of the basin near the entrance P and at thepoint E, where the inner side of the basin commences to recede from theperiphery of the hub H, a check-valve V is fastened by screws and whichmay be made of any flexible material and the edge of which is made tocome closely in contact with the blade-arms folded against the peripheryof the hub, so that no steam or water can pass on the rear side of thehub.

When the hub, with its floats or blade-arms, hinged in its periphery, isplaced in position in the basin, the lid screwed tightly thereon, andwater or steam is made to pass into the meter and motor at theirentering point through the opening P, it strikes the float or blade-armF, that obstructs its passage through the passage-way P of the basin,and forces it through said passage-way until it comes in contact withthe cam E on the side of the basin and folds itself against theperiphery of the hub, and at the same time that it closes against thehub the tappet-rod K pushes against its corresponding float on theopposite side of the hub and opens it, so that it extends across thepassage-way P", and the same process is continued with it and the otherpairs of bladearms, which thereby causes the hub to revolve in thebasin, and the upper portion of 9 the axle C being connected with thestem of the indicator and with any convenient pulley to which power maybe applied thus counts the revolutions of the hub so made and at thesame time transmits its power to any desired mechanism. When thetappet-rods are omitted and the meter is inverted from its position asshown in Figs. 1 and 3 and the bladearms are opened and thrown acrossthe passage-way P by the induction of either steam or water through theentrance-hole P into the small chamber between the end of the bladearmsand assisted by gravity in such opening and closing, the same process isrepeated; but no mechanical means are used or required to open suchblade-arms.

What I claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a hollow basin, provided with a lid covering thechamber therein, a suitable entrance thereto and exit therefrom forsteam, water or other liquid, and adapted on its inside to receive acylindrical hub, the axis of which is journaled in the lid and floor ofsaid basin at a point outside their centers, and from the periphery ofwhich project four or more floats or blad e-arms, which are hingedtherein and open and close against the side of its periphery, andthrough the body of which extend tappet-rods of greater length than itsdiameter, the respective ends of which are designed to rest upon andwork against blade-arms on diametrically opposite sides of said hub, anda beveled surface or cam in the a pathway of said blades constructed onthe in- Lil ner and lower side of said basin to operate said floats,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a hollow basin, provided with a lid covering thechamber therein, an opening therein on either side by which said chambermay be connected with steam or water mains, a cylindrical hub adapted towork therein, the axis of which is journaled in the lid and floor of thebasin at a point outside their respective centers, and from theperiphery of which project four or more blades or floats, which arehinged onits rim and adapted to open and close against the side of saidhub and, when so folded, to completely fill the space between the insidesurface of the basin and the periphery of the hub on its rear side, andthrough the body of which project tappet-rods of slightly greater lengththan the diameter of the hub, the respective ends of which rest againstthe floats or blades located on opposite sides of said hub, the innerwall of said basin having a cam portion in the pathway of said blades tooperate and swing the adjacent blade against the periphery of the huband to open its corresponding blade on the opposite side of said hub bymeans of said tappet-rods, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a hollow basin, the sides of which are constructedat right angles to its floor and lid, provided with a suitable cover forthe opening therein and means for fastening the same thereon, suitableentrance thereto and exit therefrom for water or steam that are adaptedto fit and connect the same with ordinary pipes or mains, said basinbeing formed with a cam-surface located upon the inside periphery of thebasin, a cylindrical hub, of any suitable diameter, the length'of whichis equal to the depth of the basin, and the axis of which is journaledin said lid and floor of the basin, at a suitable distance outside theircenters, and from the periphery of which project four or more floats orbladearms,hinged in a cylindrical recess constructed in its periphery,by means of a post-like attachment laterally attached to an end of thefloat or blade-arm that works loosely in said recess and thereby to openand extend crosswise of the passage-way in the basin on one side, and toclose against the periphery of the hub on the other side, and with saidbasin and the entrance thereto so arranged that said blade-arms willdrop, by the force of their own weight across the passage-way for suchsteam, water or other liquid, upon passing the entrance-hole, and willfold themselves against the hub before they reach, in their revolution,the cam located upon the inside periphery of the basin, and acheck-valve to prevent the steam or water near the entrance from passingbehind the hub, substantially as set forth.

L. A hollow basin, the sides of which are constructed at right angles toits floor and lid, provided with a suitable cover for the openingtherein and means of fastening the same thereon, suitable entrancethereto and exit therefrom for water or steam, a cylindrical hub adaptedto turn therein, of suitable diameter, and the length of which is equalto the depth of the basin, and the axis of which is journaled in saidlid and floor of the basin at a suitable distance outside their centers,and from the periphery of which project floats or blade-arms, hinged ina cylindrical recess in its periphery, by means of a post-likeattachment, laterally attached to an end of the float, that worksloosely in said recess, that open and project crosswise of thepassage-way of the basin on one side, and that close against theperiphery of the hub on the other side, and through the body of whichhub extend tappet-rods, T-shaped at each end, and of slightly-greaterlength than the diameter of said hub, the respective ends of which restor work against the floats or blade-arms located on opposite sides ofsaid hub, said basin being formed with a camsurface located in thepassage-way of said blades when extended, on the inner side of thebasin, to operate said floats and close the adjacent blade against theperiphery of the hub and to open its corresponding float or blade on theopposite side of the hub by means of said tappet-rods being pushedagainst the closed blade on said opposite side, Lshaped packing-stripsscrewed upon the outer side of the floats at the edge thereof to preventthe passage of steam or water between the side of the floats and theinside surface of the basin, and a check-valve to prevent the steam orwater near the entrance from passing behind the hub, substantially asset forth.

5. The combination, in meters and motors for steam and water, of ahollow basin, the sides of which are constructed at right angles to itsfloor and lid, provided with a suitable lid to cover the chambertherein, a suitable pipe-opening therein on either side by which it maybe connected with steam or water mains, and adapted on its inside toreceive a cylindrical .hub adjacent to one side of its chamber so thatthe periphery of said hub with its folded blade-arms comes closely incontact with one side of the inner surface of the chamber, and therebyleaves a passageway on its other side, a solid cylindrical hub, of anysuitable diameter, the length of which is equal to the depth of thebasin, and the axis of which is journaled in lid and floor of thechamber at a suitable point outside of their respective centers, andfrom the periphery of which project four or more blade-arms or floats,hinged on its periphery, and adapted to open and close against the sideof said hub, and through the body of which extend two or moretappet-rods, T- shaped at each end and of slightly greater length thanits diameter, the respective ends of which rest upon and work againstthe floats or blade-arms located on oppositesides of the hub, and a camin the pathway of said blades located on the inner surface of the basinto operate said floats and swing the adjacent blade against theperiphery of the hub and to open its corresponding blade on the oppositeside of the hub by means of tappet-rods so that it projects therefromand extends across its passage-way in the basin, L-shaped packing-stripsfastened upon the steam or water side of the blade-arms at the edgesthereof to prevent the steam or water from passing between said sidesand the inside surface of the basin, and a check-valve to prevent thesteam or water near the entrance from passing behind the hub,substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, in meters and motors for steam and water, of thebasin A, the lid B, the screw-holes M, the pipe-openings P and P, thehub H located within the chamber, with one end of its axis C journaledin the cover, and the other end G journaled in the -floor of the basinat a point outside of their centers, so that the hub with its blade-armsfolded to its periphery comes closely in contact with the inside surfaceof the basin on one side, and leaves a passage-way P for the Water orsteam on the other side, the floats or blade-arms F, hinged on theperiphery of the hub so as to open across the passage-way P and foldagainst the periphery of the hub, With the post-like attachment 1, thecylindrical recess D opening upon the periphery of the hub and adaptedto receive loosely the post-like attachment 1 with the blade-armsprojecting through the orifice of said recess, tappet-rods K withT-shaped ends extending through said hub to operate said floats orblade-arms, the cam E to operate said blades by opening and closing thesame, L-shaped packing-strips N, and the check-valve V, substantially asshown and described and for the purposes set forth.

7. The combination, in meters and motors for steam and water, of asuitable basin A, provided with a suitable lid B, and on its inside withthe hub H having floats F hinged in its periphery by cylindricalarm-posts 1 laterally attached to an end of the floats E, working in thecylindrical recess D With blades projecting therefrom that alternatelyopen outward from and shut against the hub in its revolutions thetappet-rods K the respective ends of which rest upon and work againstthe blade-arms on opposite sides of the hub, the cam portions E, in thepathway of said blades, the check-valve V, substantially as shown anddescribed and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

AMOS H. CARPENTER. l/Vitnesses:

WM. BEASLEY, OHARLns BEASLEY.

